Orlando City Soccer Club today announced its preliminary preseason training schedule for 2015 in advance of its Major League Soccer (MLS) debut.

Beginning in late January, the Lions will open training by traveling to Brazil for a number of friendlies against top teams in the host country of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The exact match schedule and opponents are being finalized, with details expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

The Club will return to Central Florida the second week of February for a training stint at Sylvan Lake Park in Seminole County. Media availabilities will be announced at a later date.

Lastly, the Lions will participate in the 12th annual Carolina Challenge Cup from February 21 through February 28, 2015. The Club will face fellow MLS newcomers New York City FC, two-time MLS Cup Champions the Houston Dynamo and former USL PRO rivals Charleston Battery in the three-game tournament.

“The team has a lot of hard work ahead of them this preseason but we’re going to face some very good competition both in Brazil and here locally as we prepare for our MLS debut,” said Orlando City Head Coach Adrian Heath. “Also, splitting the preseason in these three phases allows us to reach our fans in Brazil, our fans here at home and participate in a top-notch tournament just a short drive from Orlando.”